1. What is a 3-Phase Power Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the real power in kilowatts (kW) for a three-phase electrical system using voltage, current, and power factor.

Purpose: It helps electrical engineers, technicians, and electricians determine the actual power consumption in three-phase systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{kW} \) — Real power in kilowatts
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amps)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula accounts for all three phases in the system and converts the result to kilowatts by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for proper equipment sizing, energy efficiency analysis, and electrical system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (default 0.8). All values must be > 0, with PF between 0 and 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. It indicates how effectively electrical power is being used.

Q2: Is this formula for line-to-line or line-to-neutral voltage?
A: The formula uses line-to-line (phase-to-phase) voltage, which is standard for three-phase power calculations.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Common power factors range from 0.8 to 0.95 for industrial equipment. The default value of 0.8 is typical for many applications.

Q4: How does this differ from single-phase power calculation?
A: Single-phase uses P = V×I×PF/1000 (without the √3 factor), as it only considers one phase.

Q5: Can I calculate apparent power with this?
A: No, this calculates real power. For apparent power (kVA), omit the power factor from the calculation.